Assembly Committees Finalize Review of CalAIM Components

On Thursday, the Assembly Health Committee and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services convened a joint informational hearing to continue its review of various components as part of the Newsom Administration’s ambitious California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal. Recall, the same committees have convened similar hearings over the past two weeks to explore behavioral health services, eligibility, in lieu of services (ILOS), and enhanced care management (ECM) services, among other components. Thursday’s joint informational hearing was likely the final informational hearing convened by the committees to review CalAIM proposals.

This week’s hearing featured nine panels and primarily focused on Medi-Cal managed care accreditation, rate-setting, dual eligible special needs plan (D-SNP) provisions, and county oversight components proposed under CalAIM. Representatives from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), including Director Will Lightbourne and State Medicaid Director Jacey Cooper, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), health plans, consumer groups, and labor organizations, among others testified on various components of CalAIM components.

CHEAC Executive Director Michelle Gibbons testified to the committees on the Administration’s proposal to increase DHCS oversight and monitoring of local California Children’s Services (CCS) and Child Health Disability Prevention (CHDP) Programs. Ms. Gibbons highlighted the crucial role of local health departments in administering these programs on behalf of the state, expressed the need for additional details on the proposed increased oversight and monitoring of the programs, and set forth recommendations for consideration by the legislative committees.

Thursday’s hearing agenda is available here. A background paper is available here. A video recording from Thursday’s hearing is available here.